Presidents Message – June
What a busy month for our team at the Railway Association of Canada.
From national conferences and policy engagement to hands-on training courses and campaign launches, there’s been no shortage of momentum—and it reflects the pace of an industry that keeps Canada moving every day.
On May 30, I joined stakeholders at the Canada-US Trade Council for a frank discussion with Premier Doug Ford about one of the most important relationships in our economy. We explored what it will take to ensure Canada remains the most competitive country in the G7 to invest, create jobs, and do business. That means resilient supply chains, modern infrastructure, and coordinated action on both sides of the border.
Meanwhile, our Moving Economies campaign is gaining traction. We launched the first in a series of national events, bringing together 10 industries that directly employ more than 1.4 million Canadians. Our message is clear: we need faster project approvals, modern labour laws, and tax policies that reward investment in infrastructure. Because a strong economy doesn’t just happen—it’s built.
On the training front, our Dangerous Goods and Mechanical teams were hard at work in May, collectively training over 500 professionals across several courses. One of the highlights included a full-scale mock emergency training exercise in Huron County, held in collaboration with first responders and local stakeholders. You can read the full story here.
On the policy side, RAC staff were on the ground at the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) conference in Ottawa, building connections with communities that are critical to the success of Canada’s rail network. We also participated in the Canadian Transportation Research Forum’s annual conference, where we released a new paper highlighting the pressing labour challenges facing our sector. You can read that paper here.
Finally, with the summer travel season ramping up, our partners at Operation Lifesaver launched a brand-new website—putting vital rail safety facts front and centre for Canadians.
Thank you for your continued support. Let’s keep moving forward—together.
Eric